Random Observations in Beijing ...

• Squat toilets.  That's right, squat toilets.  In most public places, including my school, there are squat toilets.  While I am grateful for the standard western-type toilet in my flat (and the occasional "water closet" in some shopping malls), as far as public restrooms go, I think I may even prefer the squat toilet.  Beijing has a different concept (if any at all) of hygiene, so you can imagine how nasty public toilet seats would be.  Not an issue when you use a squat toilet (though you still want to watch where you step and try not to let any hems touch the floor).  There are a few precautions one needs to take, though, such as emptying or zipping all pockets -  no one wants to fish out their smartphone, if that'd even be possible. Also, I am constantly fearing that I am gonna step into that hole in the floor. Lets hope that never happens.  
• All backpacks, tote bags, and purses must be put through an X-ray upon entering a subway station. Fortunately, it's a lot faster than at the airport.   
• Some restaurants require payment upon ordering your meal. Not all of them, though, but at least 50% so far.
• Chinese bread is awesome.  
• I was expecting little green-space, and while that might be true of the city center, it's a myth for the most part.  
• There are SOOOO many bikes; from motorcycles, to scooters, to mopeds, to bicycles.  Almost nobody wears a helmet. Some bikes are carrying trailers filled with various things, and it's not unusual to see someone loaded down with a couple hundred pounds of stuff.  All of these bikes use the street, bike lanes, AND the sidewalk. Some go the wrong way, most don't obey traffic rules, so if you manage to avoid getting run over by a car, you'd better watch out for an oncoming bike.  
• Crossing the street is very dangerous (cars and bikes do not stop for pedestrians). I've taken to crossing the big, busy streets along with large groups of people; I'll wait until they go.  I've also gone across alongside bikes (on the pedestrian crossing with the "walk" signal, of course); thank god I can manage to run a decent speed just to keep up.